Kevin's Cichla Adventure of Awesomeness!

[Diskboy12]

Rapps has some orino and kelberi right now i believe....who care cichla is cichla!

Does anyone habe anything i should know before i pick them up next monday? Do's and dont's?

 

[bOOsteN aUdI]

Next question. I have frozen bloodworms, tilapia/whiteing fillets will these be good foods to fatten them up?

Most likely at two inches they will not take anything but live foods. Giving frozen blood worms and other foods a try is worth a shot but don't get frustrated if they refuse them. Live black worms and gut loaded guppies are my personal favorites for cichla this size.

I would also keep your temp at 86-87 degrees until they reach at least 6 inches.

Anymore opinions if two small 2"ers will be okay together? Or would I be better off getting 4?

I recommend 1 or 3.. One will always be the whipping boy (runt) of the group. With only two cichla in a tank, one is going to be picked on constantly.

Once i get a job...should have one soon. I will be getting some azul, temensis, kelberi, xingu (spelling?), and orinos to go with them.

I think your getting a head of yourself before you even started. Take baby steps and go slow. I recommend doing research and using the search button.

 

[Diskboy12]

I have not left the cichla section of the forums all day. Lol. Im reading reading reading! I will pick up 3 and some feeder gups....i will also crank the heater up a few dials.


Any more good info?

 

[Diskboy12]

I have not left the cichla section of the forums all day. Lol. Im reading reading reading! I will pick up 3 and some feeder gups....i will also crank the heater up a few dials.


Any more good info?

 

[bOOsteN aUdI]

I have not left the cichla section of the forums all day. Lol. Im reading reading reading! I will pick up 3 and some feeder gups....i will also crank the heater up a few dials.


Any more good info?

Good info is to keep reading. Baby cichla are super prone to iche so watch which ones you pick out at your lfs.. Just because you don't see iche, doesn't mean they don't have it. Keep an eye out for clamped fins and heavy breathing.

 

[Diskboy12]

Alright i will keep reading up....thanks a bunch!

 

[BlackShark11k]

Be careful with live foods... I'd make sure to always quarantine the feeders for a week or two. Really, if they take bloodworms or frozen food like tilapia I'd shy away from feeders altogether. Its never fun to come home to your cichlas and have them covered in parasites.

 

[Diskboy12]

True....ill try frozen first.

 

[bOOsteN aUdI]

Be careful with live foods... I'd make sure to always quarantine the feeders for a week or two. Really, if they take bloodworms or frozen food like tilapia I'd shy away from feeders altogether. Its never fun to come home to your cichlas and have them covered in parasites.

I've never had a problem with feeding my cichla feeders in the 10 years I've kept cichla and I don't quarantine anything. Cichla are pescetarian and their main diet in the wild consist of basically 90 percent fish. The stronger fish eats the weaker and sick fish, survival of the fitness. This is also one of the main luxuries of keeping your water at 87 degrees F, you won't have to worry about any iche related parasites which are usually the parasite found in feeders.

 

[Diskboy12]

I will see what they take to first.